Multiple hook lifter



Jam 11, 1944- 1F. G. cAssENs ET Ax. 2,338,993

MULTIPLE HOOK LIFTER Filed Aug. 4, 1942 frrnnuumlmmnunv illnlllljli INVENTORS Hed zssens /7 risSfud/zs BYMMATTORNEX Patented Jan. 11, 1944 MULTIPLE HOOK LIFTER Fred G. Cassens, Jennings, Mo., and Morris S. Evans, Buffalo, N. Y., asslgnors to American Car and Foundry Company,

New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New Jersey Application August 4, 1942,'Serial No. 453,498'

2 Claims.

This invention relates to lifting devices in general and in particular to a multiple hook lifting device used in connection with handling of hollow articles.

In the handling of certain hollow articles, such as rough shell forgings between conveyers and between conveyers and stock piles, it is necessary that the articles be picked up and discharged in definite relationship. It is also necessary that such lifting and handling be accomplished at the highest speed possible and without any possibility of damaging the articles. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a multiple hook lifter capable of lifting, transporting and discharging a plurality of articles without disturbing their position relative to each other.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a multiple hook lifter so constructed and arranged as to retain the lifting prongs or hoo-ks always in a substantially horizontal position irrespective of whether the lifter is loaded or not.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiple hoo-k lifter that is carried by a hoist through the medium of a shifting device located substantially above the center of gravity of the lifter at all times.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side View of the improved lifter, and

Fig. 2 is an end view of the lifter.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the lifter is formed by an H-beam 2 having top and bottom franges 4 and 6 respectively. This beam acts as a supporting beam to which are attached a plurality of U shaped hooks. Each of these hooks is attached to the supporting beam by welding or similar means applied to the upper leg I of the U shaped hooks and to the web and lower flange E of the supporting beam. The lower leg I2 of the U shaped hooks is spaced downwardly below the bottom flange of the H-beam and extends slightly forward of the beam in order to provide a large bearing area to receive the article to be lifted and which is indicated at S by line and dash outline (Fig. 2) A plurality of spaced brackets I4 are welded, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, to the top flange 4 and the web of the H shaped supporting beam and, as clearly shown in Fig. l, these brackets are located upon either side of a U shaped hook,

although such location is of the brackets has formed therein an arcuate slot I5 with the curve directed upwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Riding in these slots are short bolts I8 held in place by means of washers 20 and nut 22. These bolts extend through connecting plates 24 disposed in the space between the spaced brackets I4 and as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Each of the connecting plates has its upper end pierced as at 25 to receive the lower end 23 of lifting arms dil, the upper ends of which are rolled around a lifting ring 32 to which the hoist may be attached. rEhe rolls formed on the lifting arms are strengthened by means of gussets 3d welded to the lifting arms and to the roll, thereby preventing bending of the roll under strain. Small bars Sii are welded on either side of the connecting plates 24 and in such a position as to limit under certain conditions relative movement between the connecting plates and the spaced brackets I4.

When the lifter is empty the connecting plates 24 and bolts I8 are in the rearward or E end of the arcuate slot I6. The center of gravity of the lifting hook mass is located substantially directly below the bolts l, with the result that the U shaped hoo-ks will be carried with the legs in a substantially horizontal position as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to pick up a load of hollow articles the operator will grasp arms SIE and push the lowered lifter into the opening of the hollow articles indicated at S in Fig. 2. The act of pushing the lifting hooks into the articles will cause the bolts I8 to be pushed to the forward or L end of the arcuate slots I6 and the lifting arms and connecting plates will then be in the position sho-wn in line and dash outline of Fig. 2. With the parts in this position and the hollow articles disposed on the lower legs I2 of the U shaped hooks, the cenn ter of gravity will again be substantially in vertica1 alignment with the bolts i8 and again the hooks will be carried with their legs and supported load substantially horizontal. When the lifter and its load has reached the point of discharge and been lowered so that the articles S rest upon a supporting structure, the workman by grasping arms 3@ and pulling toward himself, will throw the hooks out of the hollow articles,` while at the same time shifting the bolts I8 to the E end of the arcuate slots Iii and the empty lifter is then in condition to be moved in a substantially horizontal position to any desired location to pick up another load of articles. t is, of course, obvious that any number of hooks may not necessary. Each' be utilized but in the present instance eight have been shown equally spaced on the supporting bar or beam, thus each article lifted can be transported and discharged without having its position relative to adjacent articles in the same row changed.

While the lifter has been described more or less in detail, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that various modications and rearrangements of parts may be made and al1 such modifications and rearrangements of parts are contemplated as Will fall within the scope of the following claims dening our invention.

What is claimed is: i

1. In a multiple hook lifter for receiving a load of articles, a plurality of U-shaped article engaging hooks, a supporting beam secured to said hooks and holding the same in predetermined spaced relationship, spaced brackets secured to said beam, upwardly curved slots formed in said brackets, lifting arms adapted to be connected to a hoist, and means connected to said arms and formed with a part shiftable in said slots during loading or unloading oi. said lifter to thereby maintain said hooks substantially horizontal at all times.

2. In a multiple hook lifter for receiving a load of articles, a plurality of U-shaped article engaging hooks, a supporting beam secured to said hooks and holding the same in predetermined spaced relationship, spaced brackets secured to said beam, upwardly curved slots formed in said brackets, lifting arms adapted to be connected to a hoist, means shiftable in said slots and connected to said lifting arms, said means being shifted from one end of the slot to the other during loading or unloading of the lifter and being always located substantially in the vertical plane through the center of gravity of the lifter alone or of the lifter and load.

FRED G. CASSENS. MORRIS S. EVANS. 

